BRASS bring East Van rage to the international stage

By Stepan Soroka

Punk quartet BRASS are never short on filth, fury, and shenanigans.

VANCOUVER – Four years and as many bass players into their run as a band, Vancouver punk rockers BRASS show no signs of slowing down. With a debut album, a handful of short tours under their belts, and the relatively recent addition of Claire “Twitch” Carerras on bass guitar, the four-piece are getting ready to head out on their first European tour. The 27-day run will see BRASS bring their energetic and distinctly East Van flavoured performance to Germany, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy, Slovenia, Slovakia, and, hopefully, Austria.

“We got about halfway through the rigmarole of booking a DIY tour down to the States” guitarist Tristan Milne explains “As any local band will tell you, it is such a hassle. In comparison, Europe is slightly less of a hassle and then you’re on the other side of an ocean.” BRASS is a band that stays busy, whether on the road or at home, and most Vancouver punks have a good idea of what BRASS will be bringing to the table in Europe. Their live show can only be described as exuberant, and anyone in attendance should expect the unexpected.

“I got electrocuted at our first show ever” says singer Devon Motz. And that may or may not have been the same show that saw Motz heckling a group of police officers who came to shut it down. “Everyone is like ‘Be quiet, be quiet!’ and Devon is down there making fun of the cops. Nobody shut [his] P.A. off for whatever reason” recalls Milne “And then they let us keep playing.”

“In contrast, the show we just played with PUP at the Vogue, that was minimal shenanigans” says Carerras. “We were just getting the job done. And then, after we finished playing our last note, Tristan fuckin’ faceplants his guitar and the neck explodes everywhere.” BRASS just can’t play nice. “Nature abhors a vacuum” explains Milne. “So at a BRASS show there has to be some chaos.”

When asked why someone who has never seen them play should check out their performance, Milne responds with another question. “Why did people look at the solar eclipse this summer? Because it happens and it’s beautiful.” “Just bring your special glasses and we’ll try not to burn your retinas,” adds Carerras.

BRASS will spend the month of October playing multiple dates in Europe. Expect an update on their new album For Everyone upon their return.